Zones 8-9 Spr/Sum 2011 Veggie Gardening is UNDERWAY Part III

Beautiful~

That's really nice, bordersandjacks!

That is a beautiful garden! How much do you think is garden and how much is walking space?

Finally, something to report. While I have no ripe tomatoes of my own just yet, I can live vicarously thru my friends who are growing my seedlings.

A Co-worker brought me a couple oF Black Krims from her garden. BKs are second only to Pruden's Purple.

She followed my instructions and got all the plants in the ground by February 19th, a full month before any of us (I was in transition -- don't know what happened with the other growers.

This message was edited May 6, 2011 10:50 PM

I have to start thinning my EB onions. I planted them close and, at 4 months, they're sitting really close together. So, this morning I pulled these out and brought them to work for show and tell.

These are the whites from the Dixondale sampler. They're almost tennis ball size.

Had them for dinner in an egg & cheese omelet with that Black Krim sliced up on the side!

That Black Krim is amazing. And I'm impressed with your onions. My onions seem ready to pull -- greenery keeled over or on the verge of it, and two have produced a flower -- but the size is lacking. The biggest ones are golf ball or just slightly larger -- but not tennis balls. Oh, well, they are good! The ones I have been growing are the unidentified ones from Home Depot, lol, and it's my first year for onions, so I'm pleased with them.

But here is my Show n' Tell. This photo was taken yesterday and I think I'll pick them tomorrow. These are "Pink Oxheart" and the shape does look quite heart-like. From the name "pink," I'm wondering if they will get any redder (?) Maybe they are ready now.

We've been picking a few jelly bean tomatoes this week (better than real jelly beans, if you ask me!). And other stuff is not quite ready to talk about, but I'm waiting...

Linda and Lise -- thanks for the beautiful, mouth-watering photos! Great job.

Mindy

Great job, GG. I'm amazed you got so much done in the middle of moving house. Very pretty tomatoes!

Just remember, ya'll , I grew the seedlings, only. My co-worker grew the tomatoes in her yard!

Thanks, Mindyrecycles. The first one got picked today and eaten minutes later on homemade whole wheat bread with a little mayo. My taste buds are happy. (Forgive me the exuberance - nothing like that first big tomato of the season! :-D )

For the record, Pink Oxheart is delicious. I was a bit skeptical when I sliced it because I like a juicy tomato and this tomato looked like mostly "meat"). But eating it was a different story -- very juicy without getting the bread soggy. Skin was nice (not tough) and sweet rich flavor. Although I have little to compare it to, I give this variety very good marks.

And, it beat all my other full-sized tomatoes to the punch by a few days. I would definitely grow again.

Hey, Ya'll,

I spent last evening reading up on Assassin bugs. Seems I have an entire herd of them down in the milkweed growing in the grass surrounding my tomato planters. At first I saw only one on a tomato vine and thought it was a Stinkbug nymph (SB). But, upon closer inspection, there was no black bump on his butt, and there was no "congregation" (SB nymphs travel in groups -- Assassins are solo creatures), so I figured out it was an Ass'n.

I had not missed the fact that there were NO buggies on, or anywhere near, my tomato vines, except for one lone Army worm I found 8 weeks ago. Since then, there's been a congregation of SB nymphs on only one of my tomato plants. I have since patted them down to non-existence.

Now I know why there are no buggies anywhere -- Assassins are surrounding the grass around all my tomato containers, and patroling and doing double duty!

I just hate that they kill EVERYthing...I've even noticed a serious reduction in the pillbug population that was resident before I moved in!

Linda

Here're some additional updates:

Sioux Cluster. These started out slowly, as did all my long-season indeterminates. They just started cranking up in the last two weeks, at almost 40 days in the garden. This pic was taken at day 50. They are halfway there, and the vines are loading up! I believe the past week of dips into the high 50s has revved them up. The vines are LOADED with new blooms! The fruit is growing in huge, grapelike clusters.

I'm counting on this as a permanent addition to the repertoire, since Sioux is a heat-tolerant variety that (supposedly) will continue producing through our brutal summer.


This message was edited May 11, 2011 11:18 AM

Here's another picture of how the Sioux is producing. The fruits are almost golfball size, with 40 days to go!

BTW, these are on the plants that were in distress with those yellow spots on them as seedlings, from fertilization poisoning? early on. They've actually recovered!

This message was edited May 11, 2011 11:44 AM

Here's my Momotoro, which is defying all that I've read about this principal Japanese tomato that is reportedly very tasty, but also a very stingy producer!

It is cranking out, too, and is full of blooms.

This message was edited May 11, 2011 11:44 AM

I think we've decided to forego any spring/summer planting other than what we've already done and wait for fall. Things have just kept us from getting out and getting stuff planted and what not.

This was a NOID sucker that I snapped off about 3-4 weeks ago and just stuck in an empty corner of one of my onions EBs (duh....). It's the last EB in a line, and out of the way in a side yard, so I decided to experiment and see what a sprawling tomato vine would do.

To date, the vine is loaded with very BIG blooms, and the fruit is coming out like a tiny pumpkin -- dead giveaway, since the only other plant growing like that is my Black Krim, labeled and in a container).

Mystery solved!

This message was edited May 11, 2011 11:45 AM

Here's a cluster of Pruden's Purple that I grew from a 2009 batch of my own saved seeds!

The fruits are heavy, and the vine is picking up speed.

I have Cherokee Purple growing from my own saved seeds, too (2009). I believe this is the tomato the Stinkbug nymphs like to congregate on. I've since dismissed the church service!

Finally, I have one Bull's Heart plant left, that is getting a reprieve. I pulled one that seemed to have early blight (that or it was just something genetically deficient about the plant that kept it looking pukey...), as I didn't want anything to spread to the other plants.

Several others growing my Bull's Hearts have reported some of their plants didn't make it with them, either.

One co-workers just reported she has a gigantic Bull's Heart growing, and they're beefing up their yard security to protect it! ^^_^^

Sorry, no BH pics to report...

I'm growing the Dixondale Sampler Pack of 1015 Granex, White, and Purple Onions. I set the onion plants out January 8th, so they are at 121 days. Total DTM = 180! Two months to go!

Here are the White Onions in an after pic, on 5/9/2011.

This message was edited May 11, 2011 12:53 PM

Your tomatoes look wonderful, Gymgirl! I love to see tomatos clustered together, like the plant is just bursting with them.

Here's the White Onions before pic on 4/27/11.

Thanks, LiseP!

I have more HEALTHY tomatoes on the vines this season than I've had in all the seasons combined, since I started growing in 2008!

I think I'm getting the hang of growing tomatoes....^^_^^

Great job, Linda! I think the drought has had a good effect in that with less moisture, less humidity and less bugs and fungus. My tomato plants are also looking the best ever.
About growing onions--I just planted a bunch of organic green onion bottoms I bought from the store (cut off the green part) and since 2 of my regular org. onions sprouted, I just stuck them barely in the soil and mounded some mulch up to the top. Are these things going to grow?! I'll also look up info on growing onions. Since joining DG, I've had the nerve to try new veggies and flowers. It sure is fun!

My poor onions have been done in by the wind. We've had such terribly high winds several times in the growing season that some of my onions already have tops laying down. :/

Steph,
Don't be dismayed. ALL my onions are laying down! Not just the tops -- the WHOLE plant is growing on its side from all the wind. And I set them too closed to the edge of my EBs to hill up any soil around them!

On another note, I spent last evening reading up on Assassin bugs.

Seems I have an entire herd of them down in the milkweed? growing in the grass surrounding my tomato planters. At first I saw only one on a tomato vine and thought it was a Stinkbug nymph. But, upon closer inspection, there was no black bump on his butt, and there was no "congregation" (Stinkbug nymphs travel in groups -- Assassins are solo creatures), I identified it as an Ass'n.

I had not missed the fact that there were NO buggies on, or anywhere near, my tomato vines, except for one lone Army worm I found 8 weeks ago. Since then, there's been a congregation of SB nymphs on only one of my tomato plants. I have patted them into non-existence.

Now I know why there are no buggies anywhere -- Assassins are patroling and doing double duty in the grass surrounding all my tomato containers!

I just hate to hear that they kill EVERYthing, 'cause everything isn't necessarily bad...

Linda

Linda- I have never grown onions to maturity. In your pic a few posts above you said the white onions have 2 months to go. Did you remove the surrounding soil or did they bulge out of the ground? They are planted in ground initially but you have nice pics of your white onions. Looks like you will have a nice harvest.

I have 2 zucchini plants that are humming right along. I have babied them big-time! I got 2 zukes yesterday and 2 today. Here they are.

John, your zukes look great. I was never fond of 'em until a co-worker brought me a fresh-picked veggie. It was so tender and almost sweet! I ate it like a pickle.

I planted out what I have learned are onion PLANTS or SETS in my EBs on January 8th. I ordered a sampler pack of 1015 Yellow Granex, White Onions, and Purple Onions from Dixondale Farms. They looked like almost-dried up green onions, about as thick as your little fInger.

I planted 30 sets per EB, 2" apart, with the intention of thinning them to 4" apart so they'd have room to bulb up. Here's what they looked like 2 months after I planted them. The green tops had grown so long they were pulling to bulds over (before the windstorms even began). So, I gave them tHeir first haircut!

Out of the 120 sets, I think I've got about 60-75 growing on.

Linda

Everything is looking fabulous, Linda. My Early Girls have been the same size and greenness for a couple of weeks, sure hoping to see some pink before it gets really hot here.

Here is my vegie photo album, if anyone's interested. My garden's not very impressive compared to y'all's (YET), but it's mine and I love it. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1996451437952.2120991.1443475978

Mindy

That's great, Mindy! Thanks for sharing. The raised bed surrounded by the pergola (or whatever you call it) is nice--if the sun gets too hot, you can drape a shade cloth over it. I'm sure everything will thrive! Janet

I think your pics look great, Mindyrecycles. JohnCrichton75, your zucchinis look fabulous - my squash plants are lagging behind yours.

But I finally got a pic of my first tomato so I'm going to post it here. I think I have picked 5 so far.
Lise
P.S. Soooooo glad for rain today!

Speaking of rain, our skies are BLACK and the streets are moist. I'm almost afraid to drive today because people haven't driven for so long in rainy weather, they're gonna be seriously overcompensating with the braking action!!!!

You know how many wrecks are gonna happen today 'cause of the rain???

Mindyrecycles,
Thanks for the complements. One day I hope to have a garden that reflects what the solo pics here and there project. Mine is truly an exceedingly modest outfit with a few eBuckets, planter, and tubs here and there.

LiseP,
That is a fantastic harvest! I spent time in the garden yesterday reminding myself why I hate staking tomatoes. With the promise of torrential rains and wind GUSTS, I had to spend time hooking up the heavy branches to the ONE central stake in each eBucket. A chore that gave me a chance to practice much patience on...

But, I also got to play in the branches and get up close and personal with the vegetation. NO buggies!!! The herd of Assassin bugs at the base of all the planters is seriously on patrol!

Linda

P.S. We had a luncheon today and I rescued all the plastic tablecloths. I'm sure I can use them for something in the gardening process. Recycling ideas are welcome.

Thanks!

>> people haven't driven for so long in rainy weather,

I think that oil accumlates from drips and exhaust vapor condenstaion. The first rain creates an oil-water frictionless surface, until enough rain washes it away.

>> I rescued all the plastic tablecloths

Translucent tableclothes? Save them for late fall and early spring, to extend growing seasons into the colder weeks and months, with pup-tents or tunnels over PVC poles.

Opaque? If you have no wind, maybe sun-shades to mitigate mid-summer burn?

I make small seedling trays out of shallow or cut-down cardboard boxes, lined with plastic bags. I set 6-packs or pots or sections of plug trays in them.

Since they can't drain, I remove excess water with a turkey baster.

Protect indoor potting areas, or under your seedling lighted area?

Protect bags of soil amendments from rain?

If you park planters on a patio or deck, protect the deck from drips?

You could create a heavy open-bottom planter on top of 2-3 layers of tablecloth over a deck. Stand 4 12x12 concrete paving stones upright forming a square, and glue them together, or strap them to each other with heavy wire. Arrange the tablecloths to drain over the edge.

Corey

Thank you, Lise, and that is a beautiful tomato, good for you!

Janet, our gazebo used to house a hot tub that was broken more than it worked and we finally got tired of paying to have it fixed every time we turned around. Thanks for the encouragement. :-)

Mindy

And, they're off!

We had a slight temperature dip into the mid-50s week before last, and I noticed the tomatoes perked right on up and put out a whole flush of new blooms. We're supposed to get a few more dips this weekend, so I'm hoping for a whole new flush of blooms. We also had some spit from the sky yesterday, .20" in my area, so ALL the plants are at attention this morning. And, the cooler nights will certainly help.

And, from Wednesday to this morning, here's what I found...a Cherokee Purple from my own saved seeds (2009) is the first one outta the shoot!

Nice! Indian Stripe, apparently related to Cherokee Purple, has been one of my favorites so far this year. We managed 1/2" inch of moisture here...others nearby got multiple inches. I'm happy to have anything, though. I deliberately watered tomatoes before the rain, not expecting much. The very early heat and dryness has caused me to have way more blossom-end rot than usual. I thought I was watering evenly, but the large black patches on many of the fruit testify otherwise. : (

David

Thanks, D!

I just came back from a two weeks trip.
Here what I have harvested yesterday.
Lots of more tomatoes are on the vines still (maybe the same ammount) and also lots of more green peppers (but I will wait for them to change color)
Enjoy

Drthor,
Are you only growing cherry tomatoes? Are those yellow ones the "Yellow Pear?"

Which bell peppers did you grow?

Nice eggplants. Black Beauties?

Linda